Maternity gown



0. L. HUNLEY MATERNITY GOWN Sept. 17, 19 35;

Filed July 2, 1934 Patented Sept. 17, 1935 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC 2,014,619

MATERNITY GOWN Ora L. Hunley, Los Angeles, Calif. Application July 2, 1934, Serial No. 733,396

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a maternity gown and has for its principal object, the provision of a relatively simple, practical and inexpensive garment or dress that afiords convenience and comfort to the wearer during pregnancy and while the infant is being nursed.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a maternity dress or gown wherein a dress of .ordinary construction is provided in its front with a vertically disposed opening that extends from the neck of the waist member to a point a substantial distance below the waist line of the dress in order that those portions of the dress that cover the front of thewearers body may be readily and conveniently adjusted to different sizes and the entire front portion of the dress or gown and the opening therein being covered with a full length apron-like member that is secured to the dress or gown at the shoulders thereof and said apronlike member including a sash located at the waist line in order that it may be secured in proper and convenient position upon the front of the dress or gown.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a maternity gown constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the main body portion of the .dress or garment as the same appears before the front apron-like covering member is applied thereto.

Fig. 3 is a front elev-ational view of the apronlike member that covers the entire front of the dress or gown.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, l designates the waist of the gown or dress which may be formed of any suitable material and cut to any desired pattern and said waist may or may not be provided with sleeves such as I l.

Suitably secured to the lower edge of the waist member In, is a skirt I2 and the line IS on which the waist and skirt are secured forms the waist line of the gown.

Extending from the neck opening M of the waist member downwardly to a substantial distance below the waist line, is a vertically disposed opening I 5, preferably of uniform width throughout its length.

Suitable ties such as l6 are secured at one end to the waist line of the gown, preferably at points immediately adjacent the edge of the vertical 5- opening l5 and if desired similar ties I! may be secured at one end to the material forming the waist or skirt at points above or below the waist line. These ties l6 and I1 provide means for connecting those portions of the garment to the sides of opening l5 that extends vertically on the front of the wearers body.

The front covering member l8 of the gown is in the form of a full length apron and formed in the upper central portion thereof is a neck open- 1 ing l9 that may be trimmed as desired. The upper edges of the front member l8 to the sides of the neck opening overlie the shoulder portions of the waist member In of the gown and said upper edges are suitably secured to the shoulder portions of the gown, preferably along the shoulder seams by rows of stitching 2 The upper portions of the side edges of member I 8 coincide with the arm openings in the waist l0 and said edges are suitably secured to said waist member I0 along the front portions of the arm openings therein, preferably by rows of stitching such as 2|.

Thus when the front member I8 is applied to the gown as illustrated in Fig. 1 it covers the entire front portion of said gown and the width of the front member is such that its side edges extend slightly beyond or rearwardly from the vertical side seams of the waist l0 and skirt l2 of the arment.

Extending across the front face of front member H3 at or near the waist line thereof, in a sash 22 that is suitably secured, preferably by means of stitches to the side edges of said front member and the end portions of this sash are of such length as to pass around the back of the wearers body and be tied together, thereby holding the front covering member in proper position upon the front portion of the gown.

The opening I5 provides simple and convenient means whereby the front portion of the gown may be conveniently adjusted on the front portion of the wearers body and after such adjustment the side edges of the front opening maybe connected by ties l5 and I1.

The front member I8 provides an effective closure for the opening l5 and the ends of the sash 22 may be adjustably connected at the convenience of the wearer.

The opening IS in the gown provides for the convenient carrying out of the nursing functions and during such procedure the front member [8 may be readily turned from one side to the other.

An especially desirable feature of my invention is, the provision of the front apron-like member which is attached only to the upper or shoulder portions of the waist member [0 so that the weight of the front member is suspended entirely from the shoulders and as said front member covers the entire front portion of the garment comprising the waist I0 and skirt l2 and the opening l5 therein, it imparts to the gown a neat and finished appearance.

Further, the provision of the opening IS in the body covering member of the garment, prevents the front portion of the skirt thereof from raising or becoming elevated as the upper portion of the gown is adjusted to different sizes of the body and thus an even hem line at the lower end of the garment is preserved.

The garment with the ends of the ties l6 and I1 and the ends of sash 22 disengaged from each other, is put on over the head of the wearer and after being put on, the ends of the ties I6 are connected across the lower portion of the opening l5 and the ends of sash 22 are tied together on the back of the garment.

The neck opening 14 in the waist member ID and the neck opening l9 formed in the upper portion of front member I8 may be readily spread open when the upper portion of the garment passes over the head of the wearer.

It will be noted that my improved maternity gown is entirely devoid of buttons and button holes, hooks and eyes, snap fasteners and the like and that ties are used in the place thereof. As a result the gown may be very easily and quickly adjusted to the convenience and with very little effort on the part of the wearer.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a maternity gown that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved maternity gown may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a maternity gown, a body covering member, comprising a waist and skirt, there being a vertically disposed opening of substantial width extending downward from the neck opening of the waist to a substantial distance below the waist line of the garment, ties each secured at one end to the edges of the garment at the sides of the opening therein and a front apron-like member secured to the upper portion of the waist of the body covering member and entirely covering the opening therein.

2. In a maternity gown, a body covering garment, comprising a waist and skirt, there being an opening of substantial width formed in the front of said garment and extending from the neck opening thereof downwardly to a point a substantial distance below the point of connection between the waist and skirt and a front apron-like member secured to the upper portion of said body covering garment for entirely covering the front portion thereof and the opening therein.

3. In a maternity gown, a body covering garment, comprising a waist and skirt, there being an opening of substantial width formed in the front of said garment and extending from the neck opening thereof downwardly to a point a substantial distance below the point of connection between the waist and skirt, a front apron-like member secured to the upper portion of said body covering garment for entirely covering the front portion of said body covering garment and the opening therein and ties connected at one end to the side edges of said front covering member.

ORA L. HUNLEY. 

